The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, December 8
Chester, Pa.
6:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Stanford
Photo by: Jeff Harwell
No. 2 Akron Squares off Against No. 1 Stanford in College Cup Semifinal
December 07 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NO. 24 - AKRON VS. STANFORD GAME NOTES (12/8) | PHOTO GALLERY (12/7)
No. 2 Akron (18-3-2) vs. No. 1 Stanford (17-2-2)
Friday, Dec. 8
Talen Energy Stadium (18,500)
Chester, Pa. • 6 p.m.
Series History: Akron leads 2-0-1
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN
WHAT'S AHEAD
Second-rated and fifth-seeded Akron continues its quest to capture its second-ever NCAA Championship on Friday, Dec. 8, as the Zips travel to Chester, Pa., to battle ninth-seeded and No. 1 Stanford in the semifinal round of College Cup as part of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. The 6 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPNU and the Watch ESPN app.
ZIPS' NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Akron maintains an 28-25-9 mark in 62 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 7-2-3 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 19-5-9 ledger. The Zips are 3-3-1 all-time in seven contests in the College Cup.
Senior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) is Akron's active leader in NCAA Tournament games played (10) and started (9). Holthusen owns a team-high five goals in career tournament play and one assist, while senior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), sophomores Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.) and Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) have recorded three, two and one tournament goals, respectively. Maintaining two tournament assists is senior Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal), while senior Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), Holthusen and Zajac have posted one assist apiece. Holthusen enters action versus No. 1 Stanford as the team's NCAA Tournament career scoring leader with 11 points on the strength of five goals and one assist.
Gainford has recorded a team-best 28 shots, including 10 on goal. Gainford, Holthusen, Hinds, Cordeiro, redshirt sophomore Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), redshirt junior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), Zajac, senior Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio), freshmen David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) and Joao Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal), seniors Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia) and De Vera, junior Morgan Hackworth (Bradenton, Fla.) and redshirt junior Shane Wiedt (Akron, Ohio) have recorded 28, 25, 10, 7, 6, 4, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1 and 1 shot, respectively.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) registered a shutout in his first-ever NCAA Tournament game versus Villanova in 2016 and has started five tournament contests for Akron allowing three goals, while pulling in 10 saves en route to posting a trio of shutouts.
AKRON VERSUS THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Pac-12 Conference for second time this season and the 15th time in program history.
• Earlier this season, Akron opened its home campaign registering a 2-0 victory over then No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• In all, Akron is 6-6-2 (.500) versus teams from the Pac-12 Conference.
SENIOR NIGHT FOR NINE ZIPS
The Zips honored seniors Pau Belana, Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), Manuel Cordeiro, Niko De Vera, Dener Dos Santos (Joinville, Brazil), Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen, Barth-Luther Mouafo (Douala, Cameroon) and Nate Shultz prior to Akron's game versus Northern Illinois on Nov. 4.
SCOUTING STANFORD
Stanford enters action on Friday, Dec. 8, unbeaten in its last 13 matches following a 2-0 victory over No. 1 Wake Forest on Saturday, Dec. 2. Senior Foster Langsdorf leads the Cardinal offensive efforts this season pacing the team in goals (13), assists (6), points (32), shots (67), shots on goal (34) and game-winners (5). Senior goalkeeper Nico Corti has recorded 67 saves and owns 12 shutouts on the strength of a 0.55 and 0.43 goals against average.
As a team, Stanford is second in the NCAA in assist per game (2.76), save percentage (.883), shutout percentage (.667), goals against average (.420) and total assists (58), while ranking third in shots per game (17.10) and winning percentage (.857), fourth in total points (148), fifth in points per game (7.05), sixth in total goals (45), ninth in scoring offense (2.14) and shots on goal per contest (7.10) and 38th in corner kicks (5.67). Individually, Langsdorf is rated sixth in game-winning goals (5), ninth in total points (32), 11th in total goals (13), 22nd in points per game (1.52), 25th in goals per tilt (0.62), 33rd in shots on goal per contest (1.62) and 38th in shots per outing (3.19), while Corti is second in goals against average (.425) and save percentage (.882), third in shutouts (12) and 17th in minutes played (1906:12).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Stanford are squaring off for the fourth time in program history with the Zips lead the all-time series, 2-0-1. In the last encounter between the two schools, Akron and the Cardinal battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Dec. 11, 2015, in the semifinals of the College Cup in Kansas City, Kan., before Stanford edged the Zips in 10 rounds of penalty kicks, 8-7. In the previous two tilts, Akron posted a 4-3 overtime decision at Stanford on Oct. 2, 1994, while besting the Cardinal, 2-0, at home in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 29, 2009.
AKRON-STANFORD NOTES
• The Zips and Cardinal enter their showdown on Friday, Dec. 8, with the exact same overall records as they did when the two teams met in 2015.
• For the second consecutive encounter, the two sides will come into their College Cup appearance rated No. 1 (Stanford) and No. 2 (Akron) in the country according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Akron and Stanford share a pair of common opponents this season as each side battled Saint Louis and Washington. The Zips bettered then No. 10 Washington, 2-0, on Sept. 1, before playing Saint Louis to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sept. 16. The Cardinal dropped a 2-0 decision at Saint Louis on Sept. 23, before earning a 1-1 tie and a 2-1 victory past the Huskies on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19, respectively.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 11, 2015 - KANSAS CITY, KAN.)
An outstanding campaign for the University of Akron men's soccer team came to a close on Dec. 11, 2015, as Stanford bested the Zips in penalty kicks, 8-7, in the second semifinal of the College Cup at Sporting Park to advance to the national title game after the two sides battled for 110 minutes en route to a 0-0 double-overtime draw.
The Zips were bettered in shots in regulation, 12-10, including 6-2 on goal. Pacing Akron with three shots apiece was Richie Laryea and Sean Sepe. Foster Langsdorf and Jordan Morris directed the offensive efforts for the Cardinal, each posting three shots.
Jake Fenlason capped an outstanding Zips' career registering six saves, each seemingly better than the last, en route to his ninth clean sheet of the year. Andrew Epstein netted a pair of stops in net for Stanford.
The Zips garnered the early momentum in penalty kicks as Drew Skundrich's opening attempt missed the mark sailing wide.
Tyler Sanda capitalized on the miss converting on his own to give Akron a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinal made their next three attempts with successful kicks from Brandon Vincent, Mark Verso and Jordan Morris, while connecting for the Zips was Brad Ruhaak and Sam Gainford.
Epstein made the save on Adam Najem's shot as the two sides went to the fifth and final round all square at three.
Eric Verso and Adam Mosharrafa made the next two attempts for Stanford, while Victor Souto and Andrew Souders matched the Cardinal to send the shootout to an seventh round tied at five.
Both Slater Meehan and Goncalo Soares failed to convert on their respective shots in the seventh round.
Brian Nana-Sinkham and Sam Werner made Stanford's eighth and ninth kicks, respectively, while matching them shot for shot was Pau Belana and Adi Dakwar.
In what proved to be the final round in penalty kicks, Corey Baird netted the winning kick, after Epstein recorded the save on Nate Shultz' attempt at an equalizer.
A defensive struggle highlighted the opening minutes of the affair as neither side recorded a shot until Corey Baird struck a shot for Stanford in the box that went wide in the 26th minute (25:29).
Fenlason made a sparkling save on a back-footed shot in front of the six-yard box Langsdorf at the 31:49 mark.
Langsdorf again got behind the Akron defense with a 1v1 opportunity in the 33rd minute (32:37), but Fenlason was key again with a diving save to thwart the scoring chance.
The Zips were held without a first-half shot for the first time on the season and were outshot, 3-0.
A Morris header attempt sailed high on a Stanford corner kick at 49:47 mark, before Fenlason posted another stop on an Verso strike in the 52nd minute (51:20).
Stuart Holthusen recorded the Zips' first shot in the affair at the 57:59 mark, an attempt that was blocked.
Soares followed with a shot that went wide in the 59th minute (58:27).
Najem struck a ball at the top of the box that deflected off the defender for the block at the 62:21 mark.
Inserted into the game in the 59th minute (58:38), Sepe garnered the Zips' first shot on goal in the affair at the 62:49, one that was saved by Epstein.
Strong strike by Laryea narrowly missed the target on laser inside box that sails high at 79:22 mark.
A shot by Sepe with 10 seconds remaining in regulation was blocked.
The Zips bettered the Cardinal in shots in the initial overtime, 3-2, including a near game-winning shot from Laryea at the 97:31 mark, before Stanford edged Akron in the second overtime session, 2-1.
THE COACHES
Stanford: Jeremy Gunn is in his sixth season as head coach of the Stanford program, owning a 82-25-18 (.728) record and maintains an overall ledger of 269-86-49 (.726) in 19 years as a head coach.
Akron: In his fifth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 11th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 79-22-11 mark (.754), including 126-43-19 (.721) overall, in his seventh year as a head coach.
AKRON HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK
Jared Embick, who had previously served as the Zips' associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, officially became the seventh head coach in the history of The University of Akron men's soccer program in December of 2012.
The 2017 campaign marks his fifth year leading the Zips having registered a 79-22-11 (.754) ledger after posting an 13-6-3 record a season ago.
During Embick's time at Akron, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 189-35-27 (.807), including a 55-4-3 (.911) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing 10 conference tournament titles, 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in an NCAA final.
The Zips came into the 2016 campaign on the heels of the program's fourth appearance in the College Cup in 2015 and boasted seven returning starters and the second-rated recruiting class in the country as heralded by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
The Zips began the season as the preseason No. 1 according to Soccer America before ascending to the consensus No. 1 team after the opening weekend of play. Akron went on to post its 16th consecutive double-digit victory campaign and concluded the year with a 13-6-3 ledger, including a 3-1-1 mark in the MAC. The Zips earned the MAC regular season and tournament titles en route to collecting the program's 31st NCAA Tournament.
The Zips became one of just four Division I programs to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past 11 seasons with their 32nd overall selection in 2017.
Akron was led by the play of Adam Najem, who garnered third-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America accolades, respectively, en route to directing the Zips to rank third in the NCAA in goals (45), points (135) and shots per game (16.95), fourth in points per contest (6.14), fifth in assists (45), sixth in assists per game (2.05) and scoring offense (2.05) and eighth in shots on goal per tilt (6.91).
The Zips also found success in the classroom as Akron boasted a team 3.09 grade-point average, while Najem was tabbed a first-team NSCAA Academic All-American for the second straight season.
Led by Pau Belana, Najem and Brad Ruhaak, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men's soccer selections, eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades a year ago. Additionally, Sam Gainford, Nick Hinds, Stuart Holthusen, Jonathan Lewis and Ben Lundt were recognized as second-team selections.
Najem was honored as the MAC Player of the Year, while Lewis was selected as the MAC Freshman of the Year.
In January, 2017, Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC. Additionally, Danilo Radjen was selected in the fourth round (No. 36) by the Houston Dynamo.
Due in large part to Embick's recruiting efforts, Akron has identified and secured some of the best prospects in the country – and around the world – with top-five recruiting classes. The Zips' classes of 2012 and 2009 were ranked No. 1 in the country, while the classes of 2016, 2011 and 2010 each received a No. 2 designation.
More importantly, UA's recruits have flourished in the Zips' system, which features a style of play that is attractive and attack-oriented, yet effective on both sides of the ball. In total, Embick recruited or helped develop 31 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2007.
Prior to joining the Zips, Embick spent four seasons (2003-06) as the head men's soccer coach at Missouri Baptist University where he led the Spartans to a record of 47-21-8 and the program's first NAIA regional tournament berth in 2003. In all, Embick spent six seasons at MBU, including two seasons as a graduate assistant (2000-01) and one season as an assistant coach (2002).
A 2000 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, Embick was named an All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in 1998 and 1999 as a player. He was also an NAIA honorable mention All-America honoree in 1999 and was twice named to the All-Mid-Central Conference squad.
AKRON EDGES LOUISVILLE IN PENALTY KICKS, 4-3, TO ADVANCE TO COLLEGE CUP
University of Akron men's soccer senior Niko De Vera stepped to the line and delivered a successful penalty that will go down in Zips' lore as third-ranked and fifth-seeded Akron punched its ticket to its fifth-ever College Cup (1986, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017) edging fourth-seeded and No. 6 Louisville in six rounds of penalty kicks, 4-3, on Dec. 1, in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championships.
The outcome of the game officially went down in the record books as a 0-0 double-overtime draw.
The tilt was first meeting between the two teams since the Zips captured the 2010 NCAA title on the strength of a 1-0 victory past the Cardinals in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sparked by a 6-2 advantage in shots in overtime, Akron bettered the Cardinals in shots on the evening, 15-11, including 3-2 on goal.
Despite the flurry of shots in overtime, the outcome of the defensive contest came down to penalty kicks to decide a winner.
Louisville went first in the penalty shots and Mohamed Thiaw's attempt sailed high before senior Stuart Holthusen found the right side of the net to give the Zips a 1-0 edge after one round.
Adam Wilson followed for the Cardinals knocking in his attempt in round two, before Will Meyer made a diving save on senior Pau Belana's shot.
In round three, Tim Kubel gave Louisville a 2-1 advantage connecting on his shot to the left, while redshirt sophomore Skye Harter had his attempt thwarted by a stop from Meyer.
Akron junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt made a key save on Adrien Cabon's attempt in round four to set the stage for senior Sam Gainford to even the penalty kicks at two, which he did with a strike to the left corner.
In the deciding fifth round, Tate Schmitt delivered a successful kick to the upper right before freshman Joao Moutinho stepped to the line and powered his shot into the back of the net to extend penalty kicks to sudden-death with the scored tied at three.
Sawyer Edwards addressed his shot for the Cardinals and went to the left where a diving Lundt thwarted the attempt with a brilliant save.
Calming stepping to the line and delivering with a deft shot to the upper left was De Vera, who garnered the Zips' first victory in penalty kicks since edging California in the Elite Eight in 2010 en route to winning the national title.
Gainford and fellow senior Manuel Cordeiro directed Akron's offensive efforts on the evening registering a game-high four shots apiece. Adding two shots each was Holthusen and sophomore Marcel Zajac. Schmitt led the Cardinals recording four shots.
Lundt earned his 10th shutout of the season on the strength of making a pair of saves, while Meyer also netted a clean sheet corralling three stops for Louisville.
Schmitt garnered the first shot on goal in the contest at the 12:24 mark, one pulled in for a save by Lundt.
The first half proved to be a defensive slugfest as neither team was able to find their offensive rhythm despite the Cardinals posting a 7-2 margin in shots, although just a 1-0 margin on frame.
Freshman David Egbo struck the lone shot in goal in the second half as his header in the 90th minute (89:16) was pulled in for a save by Meyer.
The Zips finished the second half outshooting Louisville, 7-2, including 1-0 on goal.
A header by Holthusen at the 92:41 mark of the first overtime deflected off the crossbar before Gainford's shot attempt in the 94th minute (93:57) was blocked.
Cordeiro came alive for the Zips in the second overtime delivering strikes on goal at the104:40 and 106:46 marks, respectively, both of which were denied by saves by Meyer. His final shot attempt in the 109th minute (108:22) went wide.
HOLTHUSEN'S GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS AKRON PAST WISCONSIN, 3-2
A golden goal in the 92nd minute (91:09) from senior Stuart Holthusen propelled third-rated and fifth-seeded Akron to a 3-2 overtime triumph past No. 13 Wisconsin to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Nov. 25, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Setting up the game-winning tally was sophomore Marcel Zajac, who played in a ball from the endline that ricocheted off the leg of the Wisconsin defender to the foot of Holthusen, who knocked in his team-leading 12th goal of the season to begin a jubilant celebration for Akron.
The Zips won the battle of shots on the afternoon, 14-10, despite the Badgers bettering Akron in shots on frame, 6-5.
Senior Sam Gainford led the Zips' offensive efforts registering a pair of goals on the strength of a game-high five shots, including three on frame. Redshirt sophomore Skye Harter and Holthusen added three and two shots, respectively, for Akron, while seniors Pau Belana and Manuel Cordeiro and Zajac each collected an assist. Mike Catalano netted a pair of goals for Wisconsin en route to joining Tom Barlow with a team-best three shots apiece. Chris Mueller, the NCAA leader in assists, added helpers on both of Catalano's goals.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt pulled in three saves for the Zips, while Akron's biggest stop was a clearance off the line in the 80th minute (79:30) for a team save by senior Nate Shultz, that prevented the Badgers from assuming a 3-2 lead. Philipp Schilling finished the affair with a pair of saves for Wisconsin.
The showdown between Akron and the Badgers proved to be a tale of two halves as the Zips controlled the run of play for the majority of the opening period before Wisconsin found its rhythm for extended stretches over the final 45 minutes of regulation.
In the 14th minute (13:07), Gainford delivered a shot from 25 yards out that beat Schilling for his ninth goal of the year to give the Zips a 1-0 advantage off an assist from Belana.
Catalano netted the equalizer for the Badgers at the 25:35 mark. Mueller played a ball around the endline and into the center of the box where Catalano capitalized finding the back of the net for his ninth goal of the campaign.
Akron bettered Wisconsin in shots in the opening 45 minutes, 8-3, with each team posting a pair of shots on frame.
Gainford connected for a goal, his career-best 10th tally of the season, in the 67th minute (66:51) to push the Zips ahead by one, 2-1. Cordeiro curled in a ball from left to right into the box where Gainford found the lower 90 to record his fifth career multi-goal effort, including two this year.
Catalano squared the affair at two in the 77th minute (76:31) striking home his 10th goal of the season as he delivered a strike off a free kick from Mueller. The tally represented the first time in 22 contests on the campaign in which a Zips' opponent had garnered more than one goal against Akron.
Akron capitalized in overtime as the first shot for either team enabled Holthusen to earn his 12th career game-winning tally, a total which includes a team-best six game-winners this season.
AKRON OPENS NCAA TOURNAMENT PLAY WITH 3-0 VICTORY PAST NO. 22 SEATTLE
University of Akron men's soccer seniors Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen continued their dominating run of play netting a goal apiece to lead the third-rated and fifth-seeded Zips to a 3-0 victory past No. 22 Seattle in the second round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Nov. 19, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips outshot the Redhawks in the affair, 12-4, including posting a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. Seattle came into the contest recording an NCAA-best 19.2 shots per game. Gainford paced the Zips' offensive efforts with a game-high four shots, while contributing two shots apiece was Holthusen and redshirt sophomore Skye Harter. Alex Roldan collected a team-high three shots for the Redhawks.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt pulled in two saves for Akron en route to earning his ninth clean sheet of the season, while his counterpart, Josh Adachi made two saves for Seattle.
Equally impressive for the Zips was the play of its defensive backline of seniors Niko De Vera and Nate Shultz and freshmen Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio).
The Zips broke into the scoring column in the seventh minute (6:27) when Gainford connected on his eighth goal of the season, a strike from 15 yards out off an assist from senior Manuel Cordeiro. The tally came off a strong give-and-go at the top of the box by Cordeiro to streaking Gainford, who delivered the ball into the corner of the net to give the Zips a 1-0 lead.
The Zips held a 1-0 lead at the intermission after outpacing Seattle in shots in the opening stanza, 7-0, including 2-0 edge in shots on frame.
The Redhawks came out of the gate to begin the second half as the aggressors registering their first three shots of the game and of the final period for either team. Lundt denied the first two strikes on goal by Roldan (45:57) and Nick Prasad (49:00) as he made a pair of saves, including a diving stop to deny the scoring chances.
De Vera followed in the 73rd minute delivering a beautiful pass to a streaking Holthusen, who spun past the defender and punched in his team-leading 11th tally of the season at the 72:10 mark to extend Akron's lead to 2-0.
Sophomore Marcel Zajac capped the scoring for the Zips on the afternoon with his fourth goal of the year in the 89th minute (88:16).
MOUTINHO NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR HERMANN TROPHY AWARD
United Soccer Coaches unveiled its 15 semifinalists in consideration for the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy and among that list based on voting by NCAA Division I soccer coaches was University of Akron men's soccer freshman Joao Moutinho.
The MAC Hermann Trophy, the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer, has been awarded annually since 1967. Most recently, Ian Harkes (Wake Forest) and Kadeisha Buchanan (West Virginia) received the award for outstanding intercollegiate performances during their senior seasons in 2016.
Three men's finalists will be named on December 8 in conjunction with the Men's College Cup semifinals in Philadelphia. The 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on January 5, 2018 to formally announce this year's winners.
ZIPS NO. 5 IN LATEST NCAA RPI REPORT
The NCAA released its final regular season RPI report of the season on Nov. 13, and the Zips checked in at No. 5 nationally.
TRIO GARNERS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK RECOGNITION
The University of Akron men's soccer trio of junior Ben Lundt and freshmen Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan have been instrumental in the Zips' success in the NCAA Tournament this season and the trio's efforts were rewarded on Dec. 5, as TopDrawerSoccer.com named the teammates to its National Men's Soccer Team of the Week.
The combined performances of Lundt, Moutinho and Strachan enabled Akron to record its 12th shutout of the season and propelled the Zips to a 4-3 victory over No. 6 Louisville in a six-round penalty shootout in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Dec. 1.
With Akron staring at a 2-1 deficit after three rounds of penalty kicks, Lundt made a key save on Adrien Cabon's attempt in round four to set the stage for senior Sam Gainford to even the penalty kicks at two, which he did with a strike to the left corner.
In the deciding fifth round, Tate Schmitt delivered a successful kick to the upper right for Louisville before Moutinho stepped to the line and powered his shot into the back of the net to extend penalty kicks to sudden-death with the scored tied at three.
Sawyer Edwards addressed his shot for the Cardinals and went to the left where a diving Lundt thwarted the attempt with a brilliant save.
Calming stepping to the line and delivering with a deft shot to the upper left was senior Niko De Vera, who garnered the Zips' first victory in penalty kicks since edging California in the Elite Eight in 2010 en route to winning the national title.
Anchoring the Zips' efforts on the backline was Moutinho and Strachan, who limited a high-powered Cardinals' offense to only four shots in the second half and overtime, of which only two fell on frame.
FOUR ZIPS EARN ALL-GREAT LAKES REGIONAL HONORS
University of Akron men's soccer freshman Joao Moutinho added to his impressive Zips' resume on Dec. 1, as the United Soccer Coaches tabbed him as a 2017 First-Team All-Great Lakes Regional honoree.
Garnering second-team regional accolades for the Zips were seniors Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen and Nate Shultz.
GAINFORD NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Sam Gainford was honored on Nov. 27, as the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News.
Gainford propelled fifth-seeded Akron to a 3-2 overtime victory over No. 13 Wisconsin on Nov. 25 on the strength of his fifth career multi-goal performance, including a pair this season, while posting a game-high five shots.
GAINFORD/HOLTHUSEN EARN NATIONAL HONORS
Akron seniors Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen were named to the National Men's Soccer Team of the Week by TopDrawerSoccer.com on Nov. 28.
FIVE ZIPS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-MAC
The University of Akron men's soccer squad earned five selections when the Mid-American Conference released its 2017 Men's Soccer Academic All-MAC teams on Nov. 27.
In all, 40 student-athletes from nine conference institutions were honored including; seniors Manuel Cordeiro, Stuart Holthusen and Nate Shultz, along with redshirt juniors Joe Korb (Willowick, Ohio) and Shane Wiedt.
ZIPS EARN NSCAA COLLEGIATE TEAM ACADEMIC RECOGNITION
Akron was one of 195 schools nationwide to have its men's and women's soccer teams recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as 2016-17 Collegiate Team Academic Award winners.
The Zips were also one of only two schools in the Mid-American Conference to have both of their respective soccer programs honored.
Under fifth-year head coach Jared Embick was recognized for the 10th consecutive year and 11th time overall after registering a cumulative 3.09 grade point average for the 2016-17 academic year.
LEAGUE-BEST EIGHT ZIPS EARN ALL-MAC HONORS
Led by seniors Manuel Cordeiro, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen, along with sophomore Nick Hinds and freshman Joao Moutinho, who were selected as First-Team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selections, a league-best eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades as announced by the league on Nov. 9.
Seniors Pau Belana, Niko De Vera and Nate Shultz were tabbed second-team honorees.
MOUTINHO NAMED MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Freshman Joao Moutinho was selected as the 2017 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league coaches released on Nov. 9.
Moutinho became the 13th Zip to garner league Freshman of the Year accolades and second straight after Jonathan Lewis, the No. 3 pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, was named the conference's best newcomer in 2016.
A first-team All-MAC performer this season, Moutinho has started all 23 matches for the Zips, and has been a key playmaker for Akron totaling three goals and five assists. He has also contributed 17 shots on goal as part of 38 overall shots, totals that rank third on the squad.
A starter at the center-back position, Moutinho has helped anchor a Zips' defensive unit that has posted 12 shutouts this season.
ZIPS MAKING A STATEMENT AFTER SLOW START
After beginning the season with a pair of identical 1-0 road setbacks to then nationally-ranked Utah Valley and Denver, the Zips have responded with an 18-1-2 record since a 2-0 victory past then No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1.
In that 21-game span, Akron is averaging 15.0 shots and 2.38 goals per tilt, while limiting the opposition to 0.48 tallies and 7.7 shots per outing.
Zips' goalkeepers have posted a 0.46 goals against average and earned 12 shutouts, while Akron's defensive efforts have limited opponents to only 67 shots on goals (versus 134 for the Zips).
AKRON FINDS SUCCESS AGAINST THE NATION'S TOP-RATED CONFERENCE
Akron has found success this season playing against the top-rated conference in America - the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the Zips own a 3-0-1 mark against the league. Akron boasts victories past Syracuse (1-0 on Oct. 3), Notre Dame (2-0 on Oct. 17) and Pittsburgh (3-0 on Oct. 24).
Twenty different schools have posted non-conference triumphs over the conference in 2017, with only the Zips (3-0-1) and William and Mary (2-0) owning more than one triumph. Joining Akron and the Tribe on that list with one win apiece is Coastal Carolina, Cornell, Fordham, Georgia State, Indiana, James Madison, Michigan State, New Hampshire, Old Dominion, Ohio State, Omaha, Pacific, Radford, Rhode Island, Stanford, UNC Wilmington, Wisconsin and Xavier.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• Akron's 13-match unbeaten streak is the longest for the Zips since a 19-game streak running over the course of two seasons from Sept. 14, 2012 through Sept. 1, 2013. The run began with a 0-0 double-overtime draw versus St. John's before falling to the Red Storm on Sept. 6, 2013.
• Ben Lundt's 0.51 goals against average this year represents the fourth-best single-season effort in program history, while the Zips' team goals against average of 0.50 is the fourth-lowest in program history.
• Akron's 54 assists and 154 points are the fourth- and seventh-best performances in program history.
• The triumph over Seattle on Nov. 19 enabled Akron to post a victory in NCAA Tournament play for the ninth time over the last 10 campaigns.
• Akron is 2-1-1 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the NCAA RPI report.
• Akron's 3-0 win over Seattle represented the 125th career coaching victory for head coach Jared Embick, while the Zips' 4-0 triumph past Northern Illinois on Nov. 4 marked the 75th career win for him at Akron.
• The Zips have surrendered only three first-half goals this season, with two of the three occurring in the 45th minute of play.
• The clean sheet for Ben Lundt against Louisville on Dec. 1 was the 20th of his career moving him into eighth place on the all-time list at Akron.
• Stuart Holthusen is ranked 15th, 16th, 42nd, 42nd and 50th, respectively, among active D1 players in career goals (31), points (75), goals per game (0.40), points per tilt (0.97) and games played (77), while Sam Gainford is rated 24th in points (68), 28th in games played (80), 32nd in goals (25) and 34th in assists (18). Nate Shultz is 13th in games played (82).
• Ben Lundt is rated 17th, 18thand 40th among active D1 players in career solo shutouts (21), goals against average (.854), and minutes played (4,217). Those numbers include his efforts as a freshman at Lenoir-Rhyne.
• Stuart Holthusen's hat trick against West Virginia marked the first three-goal effort for a Zip since Adam Najem recorded a hat trick on Oct. 28, 2014 versus Cleveland State.
• During Akron's current 13-match unbeaten streak the Zips are averaging 2.54 goals per contest and have limited the opposition to only six goals (0.46). In the same span, Akron has outshot its opponents, 214-93, including 90-35 on goal.
• Akron's 12-game win streak represented the third-longest in program history.
• The Zips are one of three teams in Division I that maintain an undefeated home mark this season. Akron owns a 12-0 record at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The Zips are joined on this list by SMU (12-0) and Pacific (6-0).
• Akron has surrendered one goal or fewer in 22 of its 23 games this season. All three of the Zips' setbacks have been by identical 1-0 scores.
• The Zips have held the lead in their 12 home matches for nearly 647 (646:34) of a possible 1,094:40 minutes or more than 59 percent (.591) of the time.
• Akron has equaled or bettered the opposition in shots in a game in its last 24 matches at home.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in 20 of 23 contests this season, both overall and on goal.
• Akron's contest against Cleveland State marked the 100th game in the Zips' head coaching career of Jared Embick.
• The Zips have hosted a trio of top-10 opponents at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field this season. Akron has made the most of it opportunities dealing then No. 10 Washington a 2-0 setback on Sept. 1, before downing then No. 1 Michigan State, 4-1, on Sept. 27 and No. 8 Notre Dame, 2-0, on Oct. 17.
• In the past 15 seasons, the Zips have responded with a perfect 8-0-0 mark in their ensuing contest following a league loss.
• Akron is 9-1-2 against teams ranked in the top 50 of the NCAA RPI report, including a 4-1 victory past No. 1 Michigan State.
• The Zips recorded the 700th victory in program history with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Saint Mary's on Sept. 30.
• Akron's triumph over No. 1 Michigan State marked the highest-rated team the Zips have defeated at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field since then top-rated Akron handed No. 2 Tulsa a 4-0 setback on Sept. 24, 2010.
• After missing the first two games of the season due to injury, Sam Gainford directed Akron to a 6-0-1 mark in it next seven contests before a 1-0 setback at Western Michigan (Oct. 8) en route to collecting team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).
• The Zips have made the most of the final 15 minutes of each half this season as the team has scored 22 of their 50 goals in that span. Akron has posted nine tallies in the last 15 minutes of the first half and 13 over the final 15 of regulation.
• For the eighth time in their respective Akron careers and for the then third game in a row, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen tallied goals in the same game for the Zips against Wisconsin on Nov. 25. In those contests, Akron owns a 8-0 record, including a 5-0 mark this season. The first time the duo achieved this feat was in a 2-0 victory at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 25, 2015.
• Led by a team-best 50 shots from Stuart Holthusen, 22 different Zips have recorded a shot this season.
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as 19 players have contributed points for Akron. Leading the way with 19 points is Sam Gainford (eight goals and three assists), while owning 16, 11, nine and eight points, respectively, is Stuart Holthusen (seven goals and two assists), Nick Hinds (four goals and three assists), Joao Moutinho (three goals and three assists) and Skye Harter (two goals and four assists). Additionally, 22 Akron players own at least one shot, led by Moutinho with a team-high 32 shots at home on the campaign.
• Akron has allowed only six goals at home this season, while outshooting the opposition, 196-80, including 83-32 on goal.
• Nineteen different Zips have recorded at least one point this season.
• Sam Gainford enters play versus Stanford with 218 career shots, a mark which ranks second on the all-time career list at Akron behind Roderick Scott's (1985-88) 232 school-record shots.
• Ben Lundt surpassed 3,500 career minutes in goal versus Western Michigan on Nov. 12 and now owns the fifth-best career goals against average (0.822) in program history.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in the opening half of play this season by a count of 147-66.
• Akron owns a 96-42 advantage in second-half corner kicks on the campaign.
• Ben Lundt earned the weekly Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week honors for the 2017-18 academic year, Akron Athletics announced on Sept. 18 and Dec. 4.
• Sam Gainford was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 26.
• A pair of freshmen in Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan have cracked the starting line-up for the Zips this season and have started 23 and 22 games, respectively.
• Akron's shutouts at Utah Valley and Denver marked only the second and third time since the start of the 2015 campaign in which the Zips have been shutout in a setback during the regular season.
• Daniel Strachan garnered the initial start of his collegiate career for the Zips against No. 3 Denver on Aug. 28.
• Three Zips' newcomers in senior Nate Brown, junior Morgan Hackworth and freshman Joao Moutinho garnered the starting assignment in their Akron debuts versus Utah Valley on Aug. 25.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 16-3-3.
• Joao Moutinho was tabbed as one of eight Impact Freshmen to Know in 2017 by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Morgan Hackworth was recognized as one of 11 Division I transfers to watch by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Stuart Holthusen is Akron's active career leader in goals (31), points (76) and game-winning goals (12) and ranks second in assists (14), shots (149) and third in games played (77). Sam Gainford paces the squad in assists (17), games started (68), shots (218) and shots on goal (92) and is second in points (67) and games played (80). Nate Shultz is first in games played (82) and second in contests started (59).
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 50 of the squad's last 75 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 16 of its last 24 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• Akron owns a 48-4-3 record in its last 55 home matches.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 19-10-2 mark against ranked opponents after a 2-0 victory past Washington on Sept. 1, a 5-0 triumph over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24, a 4-1 win versus No. 1 Michigan State on Sept. 27, a 2-0 decision against Notre Dame on Oct. 17, a 2-0 victory over No. 20 Pittsburgh on Oct. 24, a 4-0 decision past No. 25 West Virginia on Oct. 27, a 3-1 win over No. 4 Western Michigan on Nov. 12, a 3-0 victory versus No. 22 Seattle on Nov. 19 and a 3-2 overtime decision past No. 13 Wisconsin on Nov. 25.
• The Zips are ranked 16th nationally in attendance in 2017 averaging 1,819 for 12 home games. In 2016, Akron rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 fans per contest.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 55-4-3 (.911) mark in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, the Zips won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships (2006-16) and 10 of the last 11 MAC Tournament titles.
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 19 regular-season and 14 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 12 times.
• In 25 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 185 All-MAC honorees, including a conference-record nine first-team selections in 2010.
• Ben Lundt recorded 11 shutouts on the strength of 59 saves a season ago.
• Akron's 1-0 victory over No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28, 2016, represented the 50th career win for Zips' head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• Akron advanced to the College Cup for the fourth time (1986, 2009, 2010 and 2015) in program history in 2015.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 32-10-7 record.
• Sam Gainford, Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio) and Ben Lundt have been named as team captains for the 2017 campaign.
• In all, the Zips have produced 23 Academic All-American honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season.
• Akron has long been associated with academic excellence. Over the last three seasons, the Zips have posted team GPA's of 3.09 (2016), 3.20 (2015) and 3.37 (2014). Akron finished second in Division I in 2011-12 with a cumulative mark of 3.44. The remarkable feat follows years that saw the Zips post GPAs of 3.43 in 2010-11 and 3.33 in 2009-10.
• Jonathan Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC in January.
HOLTHUSEN SNARES NATIONAL AND LEAGUE HONORS
Stuart Holthusen continued his incredible run of play adding another week's worth of honors to his resume. He was selected as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, Akron Athletics' Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week and was named to the Men's Soccer National Teams of the Week by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com for the second week in a row on Nov. 6.
Additionally, he was recognized as the United Soccer Coaches D1 National Player of the Week on Oct. 31 as well as by a fan vote on NCAA.com on Nov. 1.
Holthusen has turned in a strong two-week stretch to spark the Zips to a pair of road victories over No. 20 Pittsburgh (3-0) and No. 25 West Virginia (4-0), as well as home wins past Marshall (2-0) and Northern Illinois (4-0), registering six goals, while adding an assist.
FOUR ZIPS EARN MIDSEASON TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM HONORS
A trio of University of Akron men's soccer standouts in senior Sam Gainford and freshmen David Egbo, Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) garnered accolades when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Midseason National and Freshmen Top 100 lists on Oct. 16.
Gainford checked in at No. 27 on the National Top 100 list, while Moutinho, Strachan and Egbo were tabbed 13th, 31st and 50th, respectively, on the Freshmen Top 100 rankings. Each of the Zips represented the top-rated players in the Mid-American Conference.
Battling injuries throughout the campaign, Gainford has appeared in 17 matches for Akron leading the team in shots on goal (24) and game-winners (5), while ranking second on the team in goals (10), assists (5), points (25), shots (50).
Egbo has played in 17 games for the Zips and owns a goal and a quartet of assists on 21 shots.
Moutinho has started each of the Zips' 23 contests this season and has responded with three goals and five assists on the strength of 17 shots on goal.
Strachan has helped anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 12 shutouts, while offensively adding a pair of assists, both on game-winners, on four shots.
AKRON HONORS MEMORY OF BILLY BERGER
The Akron men's soccer program honored the memory of former Zips' student manager (2008-12) Billy Berger, who passed away in May at the age of 27, prior to Akron's game with SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 13.
Berger was a beloved member of the Zips' championship team of 2010 and most recently served for four seasons as the director of men's soccer operations for SIU Edwardsville.
MOUTINHO NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Joao Moutinho was selected as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Month for October, Akron Athletics announced on Nov. 6.
Moutinho proved to be an instrumental piece in the Zips' success in October as the Zips posted a 7-1 record, including four victories over ranked opponents, three of which came on the road.
Offensively, Moutinho registered a pair of goals, while adding a pair of assists, and collected team high marks in shots (19) and shots on goal (10). On the defensive end, Moutinho led the efforts of the Zips, who posted five shutouts on the month.
GAINFORD EARNS MORE ACCLAIM FOR HIS PLAY
Sam Gainford was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Co-Player of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 24.
TopDrawerSoccer.com also named Gainford to its Men's National Team of the Week.
Battling his way back from injury, Gainford entered the Zips' showdown with Notre Dame in the 30th minute on Oct. 17 and immediately lifted Akron scoring his fifth goal of the season on a penalty kick at the 34:59 mark, a tally which proved to be the game-winner.
Re-entering the contest in the 75th minute, Gainford earned the assist after Nick Hinds knocked in the deflection off of his saved penalty shot for a goal at the 87:38 mark.
In a 2-1 overtime victory over Bowling Green on Oct. 21, Gainford garnered an assist on Hinds' goal in the 78th minute (77:37). In overtime, he collected his fourth assist on Ezana Kahsay's golden goal at the 90:26 mark.
OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent successes of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 11 seasons (2007-present) can be attributed to its play in the month of October. Since the start of the 2007 campaign, the Zips own a 69-10-7 (.843) ledger in the month, including a 36-4-3 (.872) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
HARTER EARNS NATIONAL HONORS
Skye Harter earned recognition for his play this past week as College Soccer News tabbed him to its National Team of the Week on Oct. 16.
Harter turned in a strong week for the Zips registering a goal and three assists en route to sparking Akron to a pair of victories.
In the Zips' 2-0 win over Cleveland State on Oct. 10, Harter got the scoring started for Akron just 52 seconds into the match corralling a defensive miscue by the Vikings in the box and delivering his first goal of the season, a game-winner, to give the Zips a 1-0 advantage.
In Akron's 3-1 league triumph past SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 13, Harter earned assists on each of the Zips' three goals in the victory.
SHULTZ GARNERS NATIONAL ACCOLADES
University of Akron senior Nate Shultz capped his award-winning week with his selection on Oct. 3, as the United Soccer Coaches Division I National Player of the Week, as well as being named NCAA.com National Player of the Week on Oct. 4.
On Oct. 2, College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com named Shultz to their National Teams of the Week. Additionally, Akron Athletics honored him as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week.
He was also recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 3.
SHULTZ NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Nate Shultz was named the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week award winner for the week of Sept. 25-Oct. 1, Akron Athletics announced on Oct. 2.
GAINFORD NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Sam Gainford was selected as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Month, Akron Athletics announced on Oct. 2.
Gainford helped sparked the Zips to a 5-0-1 mark in the month of September on the strength of team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), shots (14), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).
Akron registered victories over a trio of ranked opponents defeating No. 10 Washington (2-0, Sept. 1), No. 21 UMass Lowell (5-0, Sept. 24) and No. 1 Michigan State (4-1, Sept. 27).
EGBO HONORED BY TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
Akron freshman David Egbo garnered recognition for his play in the Zips' 5-0 victory over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24, as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him to its National Team of the Week on Sept. 26.
Egbo turned in a career game against nationally-ranked UMass Lowell registering a goal and an assist.
A defensive substitution in the 31st minute, Egbo immediately made a contribution recording his first career assist on Sam Gainford's game-winning tally at the 32:50 mark.
Less than seven minutes later in the 40th minute (39:32), Egbo connected on his first career goal off an assist from Joao Moutinho to give the Zips a 2-0 lead. His goal came on his only shot of the contest.
ZAJAC PICKS UP NATIONAL HONORS
Akron sophomore Marcel Zajac was named by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com to their National Teams of the Week, it was announced on Sept. 11.
Zajac helped spark the Zips to a 3-1 victory at UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 9, with his first collegiate multi-goal contest.
Zajac got the scoring started in the affair connecting on his initial goal of the season at the 6:15 mark off an assist from freshman Joao Moutinho to give Akron a 1-0 lead.
Zajac extended the Zips' advantage to 2-0 in the 40th minute (39:52) hammering a cross in the box by Sam Gainford for his second goal of the match.
SEPTEMBER DOMINANCE
The Zips found their stride in the month of September as Akron registered five victories in month, bettering No. 10 Washington (2-0, Sept. 1), UC Santa Barbara (3-1, Sept. 9.), No. 21 UMass Lowell (5-0, Sept. 24), No. 1 Michigan State (4-1, Sept. 27) and Saint Mary's (2-1, Sept. 30).
For the month, the Zips were led by four goals and one assist from Sam Gainford, while Nick Hinds added two goals and a pair of assists. Akron outshot the opposition, 83-49, including 34-22 on frame. Ben Lundt was stellar in goal for the Zips owning a 0.47 goal against average on the strength of 17 saves and a trio of shutouts.
Over the last 15 seasons (2003-present), Akron boasts a 81-17-12 (.791) ledger in the month of September, including a 5-0-1 mark this fall.
GAINFORD HONORED BY TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
University of Akron men's senior Sam Gainford was recognized as one of the game's best when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Men's Preseason Best XI squads on Aug. 21.
Gainford was honored as a third-team honoree as a forward.
GAINFORD NAMED TO HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Sam Gainford added another accolade to his growing resume with his selection on Aug. 8, to the 2017 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Gainford was one of 31 men tabbed for consideration for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer presented annually to one male and one female athlete.
EMBICK GARNERS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Akron head coach Jared Embick received high praise for his efforts leading the Zips as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him as the top-rated coach in the country.
TopDrawerSoccer.com described Embick as having now fully emerged from the shadow Caleb Porter once cast over the Akron program and taken it in a direction wholly his own. Anyone who watched the Zips storm into the College Cup in 2015 with a beautifully possession-oriented style usually rejected by the college game's speed could see the genius at work here. He's as tactically clued in as any coach yet to reach 40 in American history.
GAINFORD AND HINDS GARNER MEN'S NATIONAL TOP 100 HONORS
Sam Gainford and Nick Hinds were honored as members of the initial Men's National Top 100Â list compiled by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Gainford was tabbed as the No. 24 player in the country, while Hinds came in at No. 96.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage (through games of Dec. 2) in the nation (.807), with an overall record of 189-35-26. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 171-45-34 (.752), North Carolina, 161-47-35 (.735), Creighton, 165-56-23 (.723) and Wake Forest, 148-49-33 (.715). Akron has made 11 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-17), earning a first-round bye in eight seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in eight of the last 11 years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 32 times, including each of the past 11 seasons and 16 of the past 17.
DEFENSIVE ZIPS
The Zips have displayed strong defensive efforts in their first 23 games this season as Akron has limited 13 top-25 opponents to only 41 shots on goal.
In the Zips' 1-0 setback at No. 3 Denver, the Pioneers' lone shot on goal came on a first-half penalty kick en route to Akron registering a 10-5 advantage in overall shots.
Against No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1, the Zips held the Huskies to only two shots on goal in a 2-0 victory, before limiting No. 21 UMass Lowell and No. 1 Michigan State to three shots on frame in 5-0 and 4-1 wins on Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, respectively. Akron held No. 8 Notre Dame to four shots on frame on Oct. 17, No. 20 Pittsburgh to three on Oct. 24, No. 25 West Virginia to one on Oct. 27, No. 4 Western Michigan to five on Nov. 12, No. 22 Seattle to two on Nov. 19, No. 13 Wisconsin to six on Nov. 25 and No. 6 Louisville to two on Dec. 1.
On the season, the Zips have outshot the opposition, 334-172 and have posted a 160-74 margin in corner kicks.
ZIPS' 1986 SQUAD HONORED
The 1986 Zips' men's soccer team, which became Akron's first College Cup team, was honored as part of the 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 7.
Setting their preseason goals on a national championship, the Zips secured two road wins over nationally ranked teams [Fresno State, 2-1; Penn State, 1-0] and Akron's first win over Indiana since 1975, 1-0, to prove they were going in the right direction.
Under the direction of head coach Steve Parker, Akron closed its regular season with six wins, including a 1-0 victory over No. 1 ranked Evansville on Lee Jackson Field. That victory earned the Zips a sixth spot, their highest national ranking ever up to that time.
Akron earned its 15th NCAA Tournament bid in its then 32-year history. After receiving a bye in the first round, Akron traveled to Evansville again where it claimed a 2-1 win in overtime.
The Zips hosted the NCAA quarterfinal match against Penn State, and came away with another 2-1 overtime victory.
Akron had to make a return trip to Fresno State for the national semifinals and downed the Bulldogs, 1-0.
Akron's only remaining hurdle to a national championship was a highly regarded Duke squad, which prevailed by the narrowest of margins, 1-0. Akron finished with a 17-4-3 record as the national runner-up, and Parker was accorded National Coach of the Year.
ALFRED INDUCTED INTO VARSITY "A" SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Eugene Alfred '73 – A four-year letterwinner in soccer was honored as part of the 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 7.
A native of Ibadan, Nigeria, Alfred earned second-team All-Ohio and All-Midwest Honorable Mention honors as a freshman in 1969 during an 8-4 campaign.
As a sophomore halfback, Alfred performed well enough to be selected first team on both the All-Ohio and All-Midwest squads and then was accorded 1970 All-America Honorable Mention accolades as he helped Akron earn an NCAA I Tournament berth while compiling an 8-5-1 record.
In 1971, he helped Akron capture its 10th Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association title and another postseason NCAA I Tournament berth with a 9-3-3 record.
As a senior in 1972, the Zips put together a 9-3-2 campaign and their third straight NCAA Tournament bid.
PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded a 115-8-13 (.893) ledger in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. Akron owns four unbeaten campaigns during that span, including posting home marks of 12-0-1, 13-0-0, 12-0-1, 10-0-2 and 12-0-0 during the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2017 seasons, respectively.
ZIPS PRIMED FOR BIG THINGS IN 2017
The Zips entered the 2017 campaign looking to build upon a 13-6-3 mark last season, including a 3-1-1 ledger in the Mid-American Conference, and a return to the College Cup in search of winning the program's second national championship.
Akron is seeking to integrate 11 newcomers this season in Marc Alexander (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Nate Brown, David Egbo, Faisal Ghaffur (Mississauga, Ontario), Morgan Hackworth, Christian Lue Young (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Joao Moutinho, Codie Lynd (Belleville, Ill.), Braden Petno (Hudson, Ohio), Daniel Strachan and Declan Watters (Dublin, Ireland) onto a roster that boasts seven returning starters from a year ago.
WHAT IS A ZIP?
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Twelve Zips have had their names called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, including a league record five selections in the first eight picks in 2011 following the Zips' national championship season.
• Akron broke a second MLS record that day as seven Akron players were chosen in the first two rounds, the most from a single team in draft history.
• Zippy is just one of five female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other four? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
UP NEXT
A victory by the Zips will send Akron into a College Cup final showdown with the winner of the No. 2 Indiana/No. 3 North Carolina match on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa.
MATCH NO. 24 - AKRON VS. STANFORD GAME NOTES (12/8) | PHOTO GALLERY (12/7)
No. 2 Akron (18-3-2) vs. No. 1 Stanford (17-2-2)
Friday, Dec. 8
Talen Energy Stadium (18,500)
Chester, Pa. • 6 p.m.
Series History: Akron leads 2-0-1
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN
WHAT'S AHEAD
Second-rated and fifth-seeded Akron continues its quest to capture its second-ever NCAA Championship on Friday, Dec. 8, as the Zips travel to Chester, Pa., to battle ninth-seeded and No. 1 Stanford in the semifinal round of College Cup as part of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. The 6 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPNU and the Watch ESPN app.
ZIPS' NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Akron maintains an 28-25-9 mark in 62 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 7-2-3 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 19-5-9 ledger. The Zips are 3-3-1 all-time in seven contests in the College Cup.
Senior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) is Akron's active leader in NCAA Tournament games played (10) and started (9). Holthusen owns a team-high five goals in career tournament play and one assist, while senior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), sophomores Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.) and Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) have recorded three, two and one tournament goals, respectively. Maintaining two tournament assists is senior Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal), while senior Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), Holthusen and Zajac have posted one assist apiece. Holthusen enters action versus No. 1 Stanford as the team's NCAA Tournament career scoring leader with 11 points on the strength of five goals and one assist.
Gainford has recorded a team-best 28 shots, including 10 on goal. Gainford, Holthusen, Hinds, Cordeiro, redshirt sophomore Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), redshirt junior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), Zajac, senior Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio), freshmen David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) and Joao Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal), seniors Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia) and De Vera, junior Morgan Hackworth (Bradenton, Fla.) and redshirt junior Shane Wiedt (Akron, Ohio) have recorded 28, 25, 10, 7, 6, 4, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1 and 1 shot, respectively.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) registered a shutout in his first-ever NCAA Tournament game versus Villanova in 2016 and has started five tournament contests for Akron allowing three goals, while pulling in 10 saves en route to posting a trio of shutouts.
AKRON VERSUS THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Pac-12 Conference for second time this season and the 15th time in program history.
• Earlier this season, Akron opened its home campaign registering a 2-0 victory over then No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• In all, Akron is 6-6-2 (.500) versus teams from the Pac-12 Conference.
SENIOR NIGHT FOR NINE ZIPS
The Zips honored seniors Pau Belana, Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), Manuel Cordeiro, Niko De Vera, Dener Dos Santos (Joinville, Brazil), Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen, Barth-Luther Mouafo (Douala, Cameroon) and Nate Shultz prior to Akron's game versus Northern Illinois on Nov. 4.
SCOUTING STANFORD
Stanford enters action on Friday, Dec. 8, unbeaten in its last 13 matches following a 2-0 victory over No. 1 Wake Forest on Saturday, Dec. 2. Senior Foster Langsdorf leads the Cardinal offensive efforts this season pacing the team in goals (13), assists (6), points (32), shots (67), shots on goal (34) and game-winners (5). Senior goalkeeper Nico Corti has recorded 67 saves and owns 12 shutouts on the strength of a 0.55 and 0.43 goals against average.
As a team, Stanford is second in the NCAA in assist per game (2.76), save percentage (.883), shutout percentage (.667), goals against average (.420) and total assists (58), while ranking third in shots per game (17.10) and winning percentage (.857), fourth in total points (148), fifth in points per game (7.05), sixth in total goals (45), ninth in scoring offense (2.14) and shots on goal per contest (7.10) and 38th in corner kicks (5.67). Individually, Langsdorf is rated sixth in game-winning goals (5), ninth in total points (32), 11th in total goals (13), 22nd in points per game (1.52), 25th in goals per tilt (0.62), 33rd in shots on goal per contest (1.62) and 38th in shots per outing (3.19), while Corti is second in goals against average (.425) and save percentage (.882), third in shutouts (12) and 17th in minutes played (1906:12).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Stanford are squaring off for the fourth time in program history with the Zips lead the all-time series, 2-0-1. In the last encounter between the two schools, Akron and the Cardinal battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Dec. 11, 2015, in the semifinals of the College Cup in Kansas City, Kan., before Stanford edged the Zips in 10 rounds of penalty kicks, 8-7. In the previous two tilts, Akron posted a 4-3 overtime decision at Stanford on Oct. 2, 1994, while besting the Cardinal, 2-0, at home in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 29, 2009.
AKRON-STANFORD NOTES
• The Zips and Cardinal enter their showdown on Friday, Dec. 8, with the exact same overall records as they did when the two teams met in 2015.
• For the second consecutive encounter, the two sides will come into their College Cup appearance rated No. 1 (Stanford) and No. 2 (Akron) in the country according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Akron and Stanford share a pair of common opponents this season as each side battled Saint Louis and Washington. The Zips bettered then No. 10 Washington, 2-0, on Sept. 1, before playing Saint Louis to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sept. 16. The Cardinal dropped a 2-0 decision at Saint Louis on Sept. 23, before earning a 1-1 tie and a 2-1 victory past the Huskies on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19, respectively.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (DEC. 11, 2015 - KANSAS CITY, KAN.)
An outstanding campaign for the University of Akron men's soccer team came to a close on Dec. 11, 2015, as Stanford bested the Zips in penalty kicks, 8-7, in the second semifinal of the College Cup at Sporting Park to advance to the national title game after the two sides battled for 110 minutes en route to a 0-0 double-overtime draw.
The Zips were bettered in shots in regulation, 12-10, including 6-2 on goal. Pacing Akron with three shots apiece was Richie Laryea and Sean Sepe. Foster Langsdorf and Jordan Morris directed the offensive efforts for the Cardinal, each posting three shots.
Jake Fenlason capped an outstanding Zips' career registering six saves, each seemingly better than the last, en route to his ninth clean sheet of the year. Andrew Epstein netted a pair of stops in net for Stanford.
The Zips garnered the early momentum in penalty kicks as Drew Skundrich's opening attempt missed the mark sailing wide.
Tyler Sanda capitalized on the miss converting on his own to give Akron a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinal made their next three attempts with successful kicks from Brandon Vincent, Mark Verso and Jordan Morris, while connecting for the Zips was Brad Ruhaak and Sam Gainford.
Epstein made the save on Adam Najem's shot as the two sides went to the fifth and final round all square at three.
Eric Verso and Adam Mosharrafa made the next two attempts for Stanford, while Victor Souto and Andrew Souders matched the Cardinal to send the shootout to an seventh round tied at five.
Both Slater Meehan and Goncalo Soares failed to convert on their respective shots in the seventh round.
Brian Nana-Sinkham and Sam Werner made Stanford's eighth and ninth kicks, respectively, while matching them shot for shot was Pau Belana and Adi Dakwar.
In what proved to be the final round in penalty kicks, Corey Baird netted the winning kick, after Epstein recorded the save on Nate Shultz' attempt at an equalizer.
A defensive struggle highlighted the opening minutes of the affair as neither side recorded a shot until Corey Baird struck a shot for Stanford in the box that went wide in the 26th minute (25:29).
Fenlason made a sparkling save on a back-footed shot in front of the six-yard box Langsdorf at the 31:49 mark.
Langsdorf again got behind the Akron defense with a 1v1 opportunity in the 33rd minute (32:37), but Fenlason was key again with a diving save to thwart the scoring chance.
The Zips were held without a first-half shot for the first time on the season and were outshot, 3-0.
A Morris header attempt sailed high on a Stanford corner kick at 49:47 mark, before Fenlason posted another stop on an Verso strike in the 52nd minute (51:20).
Stuart Holthusen recorded the Zips' first shot in the affair at the 57:59 mark, an attempt that was blocked.
Soares followed with a shot that went wide in the 59th minute (58:27).
Najem struck a ball at the top of the box that deflected off the defender for the block at the 62:21 mark.
Inserted into the game in the 59th minute (58:38), Sepe garnered the Zips' first shot on goal in the affair at the 62:49, one that was saved by Epstein.
Strong strike by Laryea narrowly missed the target on laser inside box that sails high at 79:22 mark.
A shot by Sepe with 10 seconds remaining in regulation was blocked.
The Zips bettered the Cardinal in shots in the initial overtime, 3-2, including a near game-winning shot from Laryea at the 97:31 mark, before Stanford edged Akron in the second overtime session, 2-1.
THE COACHES
Stanford: Jeremy Gunn is in his sixth season as head coach of the Stanford program, owning a 82-25-18 (.728) record and maintains an overall ledger of 269-86-49 (.726) in 19 years as a head coach.
Akron: In his fifth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 11th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 79-22-11 mark (.754), including 126-43-19 (.721) overall, in his seventh year as a head coach.
AKRON HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK
Jared Embick, who had previously served as the Zips' associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, officially became the seventh head coach in the history of The University of Akron men's soccer program in December of 2012.
The 2017 campaign marks his fifth year leading the Zips having registered a 79-22-11 (.754) ledger after posting an 13-6-3 record a season ago.
During Embick's time at Akron, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 189-35-27 (.807), including a 55-4-3 (.911) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing 10 conference tournament titles, 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in an NCAA final.
The Zips came into the 2016 campaign on the heels of the program's fourth appearance in the College Cup in 2015 and boasted seven returning starters and the second-rated recruiting class in the country as heralded by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
The Zips began the season as the preseason No. 1 according to Soccer America before ascending to the consensus No. 1 team after the opening weekend of play. Akron went on to post its 16th consecutive double-digit victory campaign and concluded the year with a 13-6-3 ledger, including a 3-1-1 mark in the MAC. The Zips earned the MAC regular season and tournament titles en route to collecting the program's 31st NCAA Tournament.
The Zips became one of just four Division I programs to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past 11 seasons with their 32nd overall selection in 2017.
Akron was led by the play of Adam Najem, who garnered third-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America accolades, respectively, en route to directing the Zips to rank third in the NCAA in goals (45), points (135) and shots per game (16.95), fourth in points per contest (6.14), fifth in assists (45), sixth in assists per game (2.05) and scoring offense (2.05) and eighth in shots on goal per tilt (6.91).
The Zips also found success in the classroom as Akron boasted a team 3.09 grade-point average, while Najem was tabbed a first-team NSCAA Academic All-American for the second straight season.
Led by Pau Belana, Najem and Brad Ruhaak, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men's soccer selections, eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades a year ago. Additionally, Sam Gainford, Nick Hinds, Stuart Holthusen, Jonathan Lewis and Ben Lundt were recognized as second-team selections.
Najem was honored as the MAC Player of the Year, while Lewis was selected as the MAC Freshman of the Year.
In January, 2017, Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC. Additionally, Danilo Radjen was selected in the fourth round (No. 36) by the Houston Dynamo.
Due in large part to Embick's recruiting efforts, Akron has identified and secured some of the best prospects in the country – and around the world – with top-five recruiting classes. The Zips' classes of 2012 and 2009 were ranked No. 1 in the country, while the classes of 2016, 2011 and 2010 each received a No. 2 designation.
More importantly, UA's recruits have flourished in the Zips' system, which features a style of play that is attractive and attack-oriented, yet effective on both sides of the ball. In total, Embick recruited or helped develop 31 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2007.
Prior to joining the Zips, Embick spent four seasons (2003-06) as the head men's soccer coach at Missouri Baptist University where he led the Spartans to a record of 47-21-8 and the program's first NAIA regional tournament berth in 2003. In all, Embick spent six seasons at MBU, including two seasons as a graduate assistant (2000-01) and one season as an assistant coach (2002).
A 2000 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, Embick was named an All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in 1998 and 1999 as a player. He was also an NAIA honorable mention All-America honoree in 1999 and was twice named to the All-Mid-Central Conference squad.
AKRON EDGES LOUISVILLE IN PENALTY KICKS, 4-3, TO ADVANCE TO COLLEGE CUP
University of Akron men's soccer senior Niko De Vera stepped to the line and delivered a successful penalty that will go down in Zips' lore as third-ranked and fifth-seeded Akron punched its ticket to its fifth-ever College Cup (1986, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017) edging fourth-seeded and No. 6 Louisville in six rounds of penalty kicks, 4-3, on Dec. 1, in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championships.
The outcome of the game officially went down in the record books as a 0-0 double-overtime draw.
The tilt was first meeting between the two teams since the Zips captured the 2010 NCAA title on the strength of a 1-0 victory past the Cardinals in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sparked by a 6-2 advantage in shots in overtime, Akron bettered the Cardinals in shots on the evening, 15-11, including 3-2 on goal.
Despite the flurry of shots in overtime, the outcome of the defensive contest came down to penalty kicks to decide a winner.
Louisville went first in the penalty shots and Mohamed Thiaw's attempt sailed high before senior Stuart Holthusen found the right side of the net to give the Zips a 1-0 edge after one round.
Adam Wilson followed for the Cardinals knocking in his attempt in round two, before Will Meyer made a diving save on senior Pau Belana's shot.
In round three, Tim Kubel gave Louisville a 2-1 advantage connecting on his shot to the left, while redshirt sophomore Skye Harter had his attempt thwarted by a stop from Meyer.
Akron junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt made a key save on Adrien Cabon's attempt in round four to set the stage for senior Sam Gainford to even the penalty kicks at two, which he did with a strike to the left corner.
In the deciding fifth round, Tate Schmitt delivered a successful kick to the upper right before freshman Joao Moutinho stepped to the line and powered his shot into the back of the net to extend penalty kicks to sudden-death with the scored tied at three.
Sawyer Edwards addressed his shot for the Cardinals and went to the left where a diving Lundt thwarted the attempt with a brilliant save.
Calming stepping to the line and delivering with a deft shot to the upper left was De Vera, who garnered the Zips' first victory in penalty kicks since edging California in the Elite Eight in 2010 en route to winning the national title.
Gainford and fellow senior Manuel Cordeiro directed Akron's offensive efforts on the evening registering a game-high four shots apiece. Adding two shots each was Holthusen and sophomore Marcel Zajac. Schmitt led the Cardinals recording four shots.
Lundt earned his 10th shutout of the season on the strength of making a pair of saves, while Meyer also netted a clean sheet corralling three stops for Louisville.
Schmitt garnered the first shot on goal in the contest at the 12:24 mark, one pulled in for a save by Lundt.
The first half proved to be a defensive slugfest as neither team was able to find their offensive rhythm despite the Cardinals posting a 7-2 margin in shots, although just a 1-0 margin on frame.
Freshman David Egbo struck the lone shot in goal in the second half as his header in the 90th minute (89:16) was pulled in for a save by Meyer.
The Zips finished the second half outshooting Louisville, 7-2, including 1-0 on goal.
A header by Holthusen at the 92:41 mark of the first overtime deflected off the crossbar before Gainford's shot attempt in the 94th minute (93:57) was blocked.
Cordeiro came alive for the Zips in the second overtime delivering strikes on goal at the104:40 and 106:46 marks, respectively, both of which were denied by saves by Meyer. His final shot attempt in the 109th minute (108:22) went wide.
HOLTHUSEN'S GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS AKRON PAST WISCONSIN, 3-2
A golden goal in the 92nd minute (91:09) from senior Stuart Holthusen propelled third-rated and fifth-seeded Akron to a 3-2 overtime triumph past No. 13 Wisconsin to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Nov. 25, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Setting up the game-winning tally was sophomore Marcel Zajac, who played in a ball from the endline that ricocheted off the leg of the Wisconsin defender to the foot of Holthusen, who knocked in his team-leading 12th goal of the season to begin a jubilant celebration for Akron.
The Zips won the battle of shots on the afternoon, 14-10, despite the Badgers bettering Akron in shots on frame, 6-5.
Senior Sam Gainford led the Zips' offensive efforts registering a pair of goals on the strength of a game-high five shots, including three on frame. Redshirt sophomore Skye Harter and Holthusen added three and two shots, respectively, for Akron, while seniors Pau Belana and Manuel Cordeiro and Zajac each collected an assist. Mike Catalano netted a pair of goals for Wisconsin en route to joining Tom Barlow with a team-best three shots apiece. Chris Mueller, the NCAA leader in assists, added helpers on both of Catalano's goals.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt pulled in three saves for the Zips, while Akron's biggest stop was a clearance off the line in the 80th minute (79:30) for a team save by senior Nate Shultz, that prevented the Badgers from assuming a 3-2 lead. Philipp Schilling finished the affair with a pair of saves for Wisconsin.
The showdown between Akron and the Badgers proved to be a tale of two halves as the Zips controlled the run of play for the majority of the opening period before Wisconsin found its rhythm for extended stretches over the final 45 minutes of regulation.
In the 14th minute (13:07), Gainford delivered a shot from 25 yards out that beat Schilling for his ninth goal of the year to give the Zips a 1-0 advantage off an assist from Belana.
Catalano netted the equalizer for the Badgers at the 25:35 mark. Mueller played a ball around the endline and into the center of the box where Catalano capitalized finding the back of the net for his ninth goal of the campaign.
Akron bettered Wisconsin in shots in the opening 45 minutes, 8-3, with each team posting a pair of shots on frame.
Gainford connected for a goal, his career-best 10th tally of the season, in the 67th minute (66:51) to push the Zips ahead by one, 2-1. Cordeiro curled in a ball from left to right into the box where Gainford found the lower 90 to record his fifth career multi-goal effort, including two this year.
Catalano squared the affair at two in the 77th minute (76:31) striking home his 10th goal of the season as he delivered a strike off a free kick from Mueller. The tally represented the first time in 22 contests on the campaign in which a Zips' opponent had garnered more than one goal against Akron.
Akron capitalized in overtime as the first shot for either team enabled Holthusen to earn his 12th career game-winning tally, a total which includes a team-best six game-winners this season.
AKRON OPENS NCAA TOURNAMENT PLAY WITH 3-0 VICTORY PAST NO. 22 SEATTLE
University of Akron men's soccer seniors Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen continued their dominating run of play netting a goal apiece to lead the third-rated and fifth-seeded Zips to a 3-0 victory past No. 22 Seattle in the second round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Nov. 19, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips outshot the Redhawks in the affair, 12-4, including posting a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. Seattle came into the contest recording an NCAA-best 19.2 shots per game. Gainford paced the Zips' offensive efforts with a game-high four shots, while contributing two shots apiece was Holthusen and redshirt sophomore Skye Harter. Alex Roldan collected a team-high three shots for the Redhawks.
Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt pulled in two saves for Akron en route to earning his ninth clean sheet of the season, while his counterpart, Josh Adachi made two saves for Seattle.
Equally impressive for the Zips was the play of its defensive backline of seniors Niko De Vera and Nate Shultz and freshmen Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio).
The Zips broke into the scoring column in the seventh minute (6:27) when Gainford connected on his eighth goal of the season, a strike from 15 yards out off an assist from senior Manuel Cordeiro. The tally came off a strong give-and-go at the top of the box by Cordeiro to streaking Gainford, who delivered the ball into the corner of the net to give the Zips a 1-0 lead.
The Zips held a 1-0 lead at the intermission after outpacing Seattle in shots in the opening stanza, 7-0, including 2-0 edge in shots on frame.
The Redhawks came out of the gate to begin the second half as the aggressors registering their first three shots of the game and of the final period for either team. Lundt denied the first two strikes on goal by Roldan (45:57) and Nick Prasad (49:00) as he made a pair of saves, including a diving stop to deny the scoring chances.
De Vera followed in the 73rd minute delivering a beautiful pass to a streaking Holthusen, who spun past the defender and punched in his team-leading 11th tally of the season at the 72:10 mark to extend Akron's lead to 2-0.
Sophomore Marcel Zajac capped the scoring for the Zips on the afternoon with his fourth goal of the year in the 89th minute (88:16).
MOUTINHO NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR HERMANN TROPHY AWARD
United Soccer Coaches unveiled its 15 semifinalists in consideration for the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy and among that list based on voting by NCAA Division I soccer coaches was University of Akron men's soccer freshman Joao Moutinho.
The MAC Hermann Trophy, the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer, has been awarded annually since 1967. Most recently, Ian Harkes (Wake Forest) and Kadeisha Buchanan (West Virginia) received the award for outstanding intercollegiate performances during their senior seasons in 2016.
Three men's finalists will be named on December 8 in conjunction with the Men's College Cup semifinals in Philadelphia. The 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on January 5, 2018 to formally announce this year's winners.
ZIPS NO. 5 IN LATEST NCAA RPI REPORT
The NCAA released its final regular season RPI report of the season on Nov. 13, and the Zips checked in at No. 5 nationally.
TRIO GARNERS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK RECOGNITION
The University of Akron men's soccer trio of junior Ben Lundt and freshmen Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan have been instrumental in the Zips' success in the NCAA Tournament this season and the trio's efforts were rewarded on Dec. 5, as TopDrawerSoccer.com named the teammates to its National Men's Soccer Team of the Week.
The combined performances of Lundt, Moutinho and Strachan enabled Akron to record its 12th shutout of the season and propelled the Zips to a 4-3 victory over No. 6 Louisville in a six-round penalty shootout in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Dec. 1.
With Akron staring at a 2-1 deficit after three rounds of penalty kicks, Lundt made a key save on Adrien Cabon's attempt in round four to set the stage for senior Sam Gainford to even the penalty kicks at two, which he did with a strike to the left corner.
In the deciding fifth round, Tate Schmitt delivered a successful kick to the upper right for Louisville before Moutinho stepped to the line and powered his shot into the back of the net to extend penalty kicks to sudden-death with the scored tied at three.
Sawyer Edwards addressed his shot for the Cardinals and went to the left where a diving Lundt thwarted the attempt with a brilliant save.
Calming stepping to the line and delivering with a deft shot to the upper left was senior Niko De Vera, who garnered the Zips' first victory in penalty kicks since edging California in the Elite Eight in 2010 en route to winning the national title.
Anchoring the Zips' efforts on the backline was Moutinho and Strachan, who limited a high-powered Cardinals' offense to only four shots in the second half and overtime, of which only two fell on frame.
FOUR ZIPS EARN ALL-GREAT LAKES REGIONAL HONORS
University of Akron men's soccer freshman Joao Moutinho added to his impressive Zips' resume on Dec. 1, as the United Soccer Coaches tabbed him as a 2017 First-Team All-Great Lakes Regional honoree.
Garnering second-team regional accolades for the Zips were seniors Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen and Nate Shultz.
GAINFORD NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Sam Gainford was honored on Nov. 27, as the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News.
Gainford propelled fifth-seeded Akron to a 3-2 overtime victory over No. 13 Wisconsin on Nov. 25 on the strength of his fifth career multi-goal performance, including a pair this season, while posting a game-high five shots.
GAINFORD/HOLTHUSEN EARN NATIONAL HONORS
Akron seniors Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen were named to the National Men's Soccer Team of the Week by TopDrawerSoccer.com on Nov. 28.
FIVE ZIPS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-MAC
The University of Akron men's soccer squad earned five selections when the Mid-American Conference released its 2017 Men's Soccer Academic All-MAC teams on Nov. 27.
In all, 40 student-athletes from nine conference institutions were honored including; seniors Manuel Cordeiro, Stuart Holthusen and Nate Shultz, along with redshirt juniors Joe Korb (Willowick, Ohio) and Shane Wiedt.
ZIPS EARN NSCAA COLLEGIATE TEAM ACADEMIC RECOGNITION
Akron was one of 195 schools nationwide to have its men's and women's soccer teams recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as 2016-17 Collegiate Team Academic Award winners.
The Zips were also one of only two schools in the Mid-American Conference to have both of their respective soccer programs honored.
Under fifth-year head coach Jared Embick was recognized for the 10th consecutive year and 11th time overall after registering a cumulative 3.09 grade point average for the 2016-17 academic year.
LEAGUE-BEST EIGHT ZIPS EARN ALL-MAC HONORS
Led by seniors Manuel Cordeiro, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen, along with sophomore Nick Hinds and freshman Joao Moutinho, who were selected as First-Team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selections, a league-best eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades as announced by the league on Nov. 9.
Seniors Pau Belana, Niko De Vera and Nate Shultz were tabbed second-team honorees.
MOUTINHO NAMED MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Freshman Joao Moutinho was selected as the 2017 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league coaches released on Nov. 9.
Moutinho became the 13th Zip to garner league Freshman of the Year accolades and second straight after Jonathan Lewis, the No. 3 pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, was named the conference's best newcomer in 2016.
A first-team All-MAC performer this season, Moutinho has started all 23 matches for the Zips, and has been a key playmaker for Akron totaling three goals and five assists. He has also contributed 17 shots on goal as part of 38 overall shots, totals that rank third on the squad.
A starter at the center-back position, Moutinho has helped anchor a Zips' defensive unit that has posted 12 shutouts this season.
ZIPS MAKING A STATEMENT AFTER SLOW START
After beginning the season with a pair of identical 1-0 road setbacks to then nationally-ranked Utah Valley and Denver, the Zips have responded with an 18-1-2 record since a 2-0 victory past then No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1.
In that 21-game span, Akron is averaging 15.0 shots and 2.38 goals per tilt, while limiting the opposition to 0.48 tallies and 7.7 shots per outing.
Zips' goalkeepers have posted a 0.46 goals against average and earned 12 shutouts, while Akron's defensive efforts have limited opponents to only 67 shots on goals (versus 134 for the Zips).
AKRON FINDS SUCCESS AGAINST THE NATION'S TOP-RATED CONFERENCE
Akron has found success this season playing against the top-rated conference in America - the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the Zips own a 3-0-1 mark against the league. Akron boasts victories past Syracuse (1-0 on Oct. 3), Notre Dame (2-0 on Oct. 17) and Pittsburgh (3-0 on Oct. 24).
Twenty different schools have posted non-conference triumphs over the conference in 2017, with only the Zips (3-0-1) and William and Mary (2-0) owning more than one triumph. Joining Akron and the Tribe on that list with one win apiece is Coastal Carolina, Cornell, Fordham, Georgia State, Indiana, James Madison, Michigan State, New Hampshire, Old Dominion, Ohio State, Omaha, Pacific, Radford, Rhode Island, Stanford, UNC Wilmington, Wisconsin and Xavier.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• Akron's 13-match unbeaten streak is the longest for the Zips since a 19-game streak running over the course of two seasons from Sept. 14, 2012 through Sept. 1, 2013. The run began with a 0-0 double-overtime draw versus St. John's before falling to the Red Storm on Sept. 6, 2013.
• Ben Lundt's 0.51 goals against average this year represents the fourth-best single-season effort in program history, while the Zips' team goals against average of 0.50 is the fourth-lowest in program history.
• Akron's 54 assists and 154 points are the fourth- and seventh-best performances in program history.
• The triumph over Seattle on Nov. 19 enabled Akron to post a victory in NCAA Tournament play for the ninth time over the last 10 campaigns.
• Akron is 2-1-1 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the NCAA RPI report.
• Akron's 3-0 win over Seattle represented the 125th career coaching victory for head coach Jared Embick, while the Zips' 4-0 triumph past Northern Illinois on Nov. 4 marked the 75th career win for him at Akron.
• The Zips have surrendered only three first-half goals this season, with two of the three occurring in the 45th minute of play.
• The clean sheet for Ben Lundt against Louisville on Dec. 1 was the 20th of his career moving him into eighth place on the all-time list at Akron.
• Stuart Holthusen is ranked 15th, 16th, 42nd, 42nd and 50th, respectively, among active D1 players in career goals (31), points (75), goals per game (0.40), points per tilt (0.97) and games played (77), while Sam Gainford is rated 24th in points (68), 28th in games played (80), 32nd in goals (25) and 34th in assists (18). Nate Shultz is 13th in games played (82).
• Ben Lundt is rated 17th, 18thand 40th among active D1 players in career solo shutouts (21), goals against average (.854), and minutes played (4,217). Those numbers include his efforts as a freshman at Lenoir-Rhyne.
• Stuart Holthusen's hat trick against West Virginia marked the first three-goal effort for a Zip since Adam Najem recorded a hat trick on Oct. 28, 2014 versus Cleveland State.
• During Akron's current 13-match unbeaten streak the Zips are averaging 2.54 goals per contest and have limited the opposition to only six goals (0.46). In the same span, Akron has outshot its opponents, 214-93, including 90-35 on goal.
• Akron's 12-game win streak represented the third-longest in program history.
• The Zips are one of three teams in Division I that maintain an undefeated home mark this season. Akron owns a 12-0 record at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The Zips are joined on this list by SMU (12-0) and Pacific (6-0).
• Akron has surrendered one goal or fewer in 22 of its 23 games this season. All three of the Zips' setbacks have been by identical 1-0 scores.
• The Zips have held the lead in their 12 home matches for nearly 647 (646:34) of a possible 1,094:40 minutes or more than 59 percent (.591) of the time.
• Akron has equaled or bettered the opposition in shots in a game in its last 24 matches at home.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in 20 of 23 contests this season, both overall and on goal.
• Akron's contest against Cleveland State marked the 100th game in the Zips' head coaching career of Jared Embick.
• The Zips have hosted a trio of top-10 opponents at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field this season. Akron has made the most of it opportunities dealing then No. 10 Washington a 2-0 setback on Sept. 1, before downing then No. 1 Michigan State, 4-1, on Sept. 27 and No. 8 Notre Dame, 2-0, on Oct. 17.
• In the past 15 seasons, the Zips have responded with a perfect 8-0-0 mark in their ensuing contest following a league loss.
• Akron is 9-1-2 against teams ranked in the top 50 of the NCAA RPI report, including a 4-1 victory past No. 1 Michigan State.
• The Zips recorded the 700th victory in program history with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Saint Mary's on Sept. 30.
• Akron's triumph over No. 1 Michigan State marked the highest-rated team the Zips have defeated at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field since then top-rated Akron handed No. 2 Tulsa a 4-0 setback on Sept. 24, 2010.
• After missing the first two games of the season due to injury, Sam Gainford directed Akron to a 6-0-1 mark in it next seven contests before a 1-0 setback at Western Michigan (Oct. 8) en route to collecting team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).
• The Zips have made the most of the final 15 minutes of each half this season as the team has scored 22 of their 50 goals in that span. Akron has posted nine tallies in the last 15 minutes of the first half and 13 over the final 15 of regulation.
• For the eighth time in their respective Akron careers and for the then third game in a row, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen tallied goals in the same game for the Zips against Wisconsin on Nov. 25. In those contests, Akron owns a 8-0 record, including a 5-0 mark this season. The first time the duo achieved this feat was in a 2-0 victory at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 25, 2015.
• Led by a team-best 50 shots from Stuart Holthusen, 22 different Zips have recorded a shot this season.
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as 19 players have contributed points for Akron. Leading the way with 19 points is Sam Gainford (eight goals and three assists), while owning 16, 11, nine and eight points, respectively, is Stuart Holthusen (seven goals and two assists), Nick Hinds (four goals and three assists), Joao Moutinho (three goals and three assists) and Skye Harter (two goals and four assists). Additionally, 22 Akron players own at least one shot, led by Moutinho with a team-high 32 shots at home on the campaign.
• Akron has allowed only six goals at home this season, while outshooting the opposition, 196-80, including 83-32 on goal.
• Nineteen different Zips have recorded at least one point this season.
• Sam Gainford enters play versus Stanford with 218 career shots, a mark which ranks second on the all-time career list at Akron behind Roderick Scott's (1985-88) 232 school-record shots.
• Ben Lundt surpassed 3,500 career minutes in goal versus Western Michigan on Nov. 12 and now owns the fifth-best career goals against average (0.822) in program history.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in the opening half of play this season by a count of 147-66.
• Akron owns a 96-42 advantage in second-half corner kicks on the campaign.
• Ben Lundt earned the weekly Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week honors for the 2017-18 academic year, Akron Athletics announced on Sept. 18 and Dec. 4.
• Sam Gainford was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 26.
• A pair of freshmen in Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan have cracked the starting line-up for the Zips this season and have started 23 and 22 games, respectively.
• Akron's shutouts at Utah Valley and Denver marked only the second and third time since the start of the 2015 campaign in which the Zips have been shutout in a setback during the regular season.
• Daniel Strachan garnered the initial start of his collegiate career for the Zips against No. 3 Denver on Aug. 28.
• Three Zips' newcomers in senior Nate Brown, junior Morgan Hackworth and freshman Joao Moutinho garnered the starting assignment in their Akron debuts versus Utah Valley on Aug. 25.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 16-3-3.
• Joao Moutinho was tabbed as one of eight Impact Freshmen to Know in 2017 by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Morgan Hackworth was recognized as one of 11 Division I transfers to watch by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Stuart Holthusen is Akron's active career leader in goals (31), points (76) and game-winning goals (12) and ranks second in assists (14), shots (149) and third in games played (77). Sam Gainford paces the squad in assists (17), games started (68), shots (218) and shots on goal (92) and is second in points (67) and games played (80). Nate Shultz is first in games played (82) and second in contests started (59).
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 50 of the squad's last 75 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 16 of its last 24 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• Akron owns a 48-4-3 record in its last 55 home matches.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 19-10-2 mark against ranked opponents after a 2-0 victory past Washington on Sept. 1, a 5-0 triumph over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24, a 4-1 win versus No. 1 Michigan State on Sept. 27, a 2-0 decision against Notre Dame on Oct. 17, a 2-0 victory over No. 20 Pittsburgh on Oct. 24, a 4-0 decision past No. 25 West Virginia on Oct. 27, a 3-1 win over No. 4 Western Michigan on Nov. 12, a 3-0 victory versus No. 22 Seattle on Nov. 19 and a 3-2 overtime decision past No. 13 Wisconsin on Nov. 25.
• The Zips are ranked 16th nationally in attendance in 2017 averaging 1,819 for 12 home games. In 2016, Akron rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 fans per contest.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 55-4-3 (.911) mark in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, the Zips won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships (2006-16) and 10 of the last 11 MAC Tournament titles.
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 19 regular-season and 14 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 12 times.
• In 25 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 185 All-MAC honorees, including a conference-record nine first-team selections in 2010.
• Ben Lundt recorded 11 shutouts on the strength of 59 saves a season ago.
• Akron's 1-0 victory over No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28, 2016, represented the 50th career win for Zips' head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• Akron advanced to the College Cup for the fourth time (1986, 2009, 2010 and 2015) in program history in 2015.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 32-10-7 record.
• Sam Gainford, Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio) and Ben Lundt have been named as team captains for the 2017 campaign.
• In all, the Zips have produced 23 Academic All-American honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season.
• Akron has long been associated with academic excellence. Over the last three seasons, the Zips have posted team GPA's of 3.09 (2016), 3.20 (2015) and 3.37 (2014). Akron finished second in Division I in 2011-12 with a cumulative mark of 3.44. The remarkable feat follows years that saw the Zips post GPAs of 3.43 in 2010-11 and 3.33 in 2009-10.
• Jonathan Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC in January.
HOLTHUSEN SNARES NATIONAL AND LEAGUE HONORS
Stuart Holthusen continued his incredible run of play adding another week's worth of honors to his resume. He was selected as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, Akron Athletics' Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week and was named to the Men's Soccer National Teams of the Week by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com for the second week in a row on Nov. 6.
Additionally, he was recognized as the United Soccer Coaches D1 National Player of the Week on Oct. 31 as well as by a fan vote on NCAA.com on Nov. 1.
Holthusen has turned in a strong two-week stretch to spark the Zips to a pair of road victories over No. 20 Pittsburgh (3-0) and No. 25 West Virginia (4-0), as well as home wins past Marshall (2-0) and Northern Illinois (4-0), registering six goals, while adding an assist.
FOUR ZIPS EARN MIDSEASON TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM HONORS
A trio of University of Akron men's soccer standouts in senior Sam Gainford and freshmen David Egbo, Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) garnered accolades when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Midseason National and Freshmen Top 100 lists on Oct. 16.
Gainford checked in at No. 27 on the National Top 100 list, while Moutinho, Strachan and Egbo were tabbed 13th, 31st and 50th, respectively, on the Freshmen Top 100 rankings. Each of the Zips represented the top-rated players in the Mid-American Conference.
Battling injuries throughout the campaign, Gainford has appeared in 17 matches for Akron leading the team in shots on goal (24) and game-winners (5), while ranking second on the team in goals (10), assists (5), points (25), shots (50).
Egbo has played in 17 games for the Zips and owns a goal and a quartet of assists on 21 shots.
Moutinho has started each of the Zips' 23 contests this season and has responded with three goals and five assists on the strength of 17 shots on goal.
Strachan has helped anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 12 shutouts, while offensively adding a pair of assists, both on game-winners, on four shots.
AKRON HONORS MEMORY OF BILLY BERGER
The Akron men's soccer program honored the memory of former Zips' student manager (2008-12) Billy Berger, who passed away in May at the age of 27, prior to Akron's game with SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 13.
Berger was a beloved member of the Zips' championship team of 2010 and most recently served for four seasons as the director of men's soccer operations for SIU Edwardsville.
MOUTINHO NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Joao Moutinho was selected as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Month for October, Akron Athletics announced on Nov. 6.
Moutinho proved to be an instrumental piece in the Zips' success in October as the Zips posted a 7-1 record, including four victories over ranked opponents, three of which came on the road.
Offensively, Moutinho registered a pair of goals, while adding a pair of assists, and collected team high marks in shots (19) and shots on goal (10). On the defensive end, Moutinho led the efforts of the Zips, who posted five shutouts on the month.
GAINFORD EARNS MORE ACCLAIM FOR HIS PLAY
Sam Gainford was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Co-Player of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 24.
TopDrawerSoccer.com also named Gainford to its Men's National Team of the Week.
Battling his way back from injury, Gainford entered the Zips' showdown with Notre Dame in the 30th minute on Oct. 17 and immediately lifted Akron scoring his fifth goal of the season on a penalty kick at the 34:59 mark, a tally which proved to be the game-winner.
Re-entering the contest in the 75th minute, Gainford earned the assist after Nick Hinds knocked in the deflection off of his saved penalty shot for a goal at the 87:38 mark.
In a 2-1 overtime victory over Bowling Green on Oct. 21, Gainford garnered an assist on Hinds' goal in the 78th minute (77:37). In overtime, he collected his fourth assist on Ezana Kahsay's golden goal at the 90:26 mark.
OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent successes of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 11 seasons (2007-present) can be attributed to its play in the month of October. Since the start of the 2007 campaign, the Zips own a 69-10-7 (.843) ledger in the month, including a 36-4-3 (.872) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
HARTER EARNS NATIONAL HONORS
Skye Harter earned recognition for his play this past week as College Soccer News tabbed him to its National Team of the Week on Oct. 16.
Harter turned in a strong week for the Zips registering a goal and three assists en route to sparking Akron to a pair of victories.
In the Zips' 2-0 win over Cleveland State on Oct. 10, Harter got the scoring started for Akron just 52 seconds into the match corralling a defensive miscue by the Vikings in the box and delivering his first goal of the season, a game-winner, to give the Zips a 1-0 advantage.
In Akron's 3-1 league triumph past SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 13, Harter earned assists on each of the Zips' three goals in the victory.
SHULTZ GARNERS NATIONAL ACCOLADES
University of Akron senior Nate Shultz capped his award-winning week with his selection on Oct. 3, as the United Soccer Coaches Division I National Player of the Week, as well as being named NCAA.com National Player of the Week on Oct. 4.
On Oct. 2, College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com named Shultz to their National Teams of the Week. Additionally, Akron Athletics honored him as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week.
He was also recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 3.
SHULTZ NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Nate Shultz was named the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week award winner for the week of Sept. 25-Oct. 1, Akron Athletics announced on Oct. 2.
GAINFORD NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Sam Gainford was selected as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Month, Akron Athletics announced on Oct. 2.
Gainford helped sparked the Zips to a 5-0-1 mark in the month of September on the strength of team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), shots (14), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).
Akron registered victories over a trio of ranked opponents defeating No. 10 Washington (2-0, Sept. 1), No. 21 UMass Lowell (5-0, Sept. 24) and No. 1 Michigan State (4-1, Sept. 27).
EGBO HONORED BY TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
Akron freshman David Egbo garnered recognition for his play in the Zips' 5-0 victory over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24, as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him to its National Team of the Week on Sept. 26.
Egbo turned in a career game against nationally-ranked UMass Lowell registering a goal and an assist.
A defensive substitution in the 31st minute, Egbo immediately made a contribution recording his first career assist on Sam Gainford's game-winning tally at the 32:50 mark.
Less than seven minutes later in the 40th minute (39:32), Egbo connected on his first career goal off an assist from Joao Moutinho to give the Zips a 2-0 lead. His goal came on his only shot of the contest.
ZAJAC PICKS UP NATIONAL HONORS
Akron sophomore Marcel Zajac was named by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com to their National Teams of the Week, it was announced on Sept. 11.
Zajac helped spark the Zips to a 3-1 victory at UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 9, with his first collegiate multi-goal contest.
Zajac got the scoring started in the affair connecting on his initial goal of the season at the 6:15 mark off an assist from freshman Joao Moutinho to give Akron a 1-0 lead.
Zajac extended the Zips' advantage to 2-0 in the 40th minute (39:52) hammering a cross in the box by Sam Gainford for his second goal of the match.
SEPTEMBER DOMINANCE
The Zips found their stride in the month of September as Akron registered five victories in month, bettering No. 10 Washington (2-0, Sept. 1), UC Santa Barbara (3-1, Sept. 9.), No. 21 UMass Lowell (5-0, Sept. 24), No. 1 Michigan State (4-1, Sept. 27) and Saint Mary's (2-1, Sept. 30).
For the month, the Zips were led by four goals and one assist from Sam Gainford, while Nick Hinds added two goals and a pair of assists. Akron outshot the opposition, 83-49, including 34-22 on frame. Ben Lundt was stellar in goal for the Zips owning a 0.47 goal against average on the strength of 17 saves and a trio of shutouts.
Over the last 15 seasons (2003-present), Akron boasts a 81-17-12 (.791) ledger in the month of September, including a 5-0-1 mark this fall.
GAINFORD HONORED BY TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
University of Akron men's senior Sam Gainford was recognized as one of the game's best when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Men's Preseason Best XI squads on Aug. 21.
Gainford was honored as a third-team honoree as a forward.
GAINFORD NAMED TO HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Sam Gainford added another accolade to his growing resume with his selection on Aug. 8, to the 2017 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Gainford was one of 31 men tabbed for consideration for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer presented annually to one male and one female athlete.
EMBICK GARNERS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Akron head coach Jared Embick received high praise for his efforts leading the Zips as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him as the top-rated coach in the country.
TopDrawerSoccer.com described Embick as having now fully emerged from the shadow Caleb Porter once cast over the Akron program and taken it in a direction wholly his own. Anyone who watched the Zips storm into the College Cup in 2015 with a beautifully possession-oriented style usually rejected by the college game's speed could see the genius at work here. He's as tactically clued in as any coach yet to reach 40 in American history.
GAINFORD AND HINDS GARNER MEN'S NATIONAL TOP 100 HONORS
Sam Gainford and Nick Hinds were honored as members of the initial Men's National Top 100Â list compiled by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Gainford was tabbed as the No. 24 player in the country, while Hinds came in at No. 96.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage (through games of Dec. 2) in the nation (.807), with an overall record of 189-35-26. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 171-45-34 (.752), North Carolina, 161-47-35 (.735), Creighton, 165-56-23 (.723) and Wake Forest, 148-49-33 (.715). Akron has made 11 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-17), earning a first-round bye in eight seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in eight of the last 11 years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 32 times, including each of the past 11 seasons and 16 of the past 17.
DEFENSIVE ZIPS
The Zips have displayed strong defensive efforts in their first 23 games this season as Akron has limited 13 top-25 opponents to only 41 shots on goal.
In the Zips' 1-0 setback at No. 3 Denver, the Pioneers' lone shot on goal came on a first-half penalty kick en route to Akron registering a 10-5 advantage in overall shots.
Against No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1, the Zips held the Huskies to only two shots on goal in a 2-0 victory, before limiting No. 21 UMass Lowell and No. 1 Michigan State to three shots on frame in 5-0 and 4-1 wins on Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, respectively. Akron held No. 8 Notre Dame to four shots on frame on Oct. 17, No. 20 Pittsburgh to three on Oct. 24, No. 25 West Virginia to one on Oct. 27, No. 4 Western Michigan to five on Nov. 12, No. 22 Seattle to two on Nov. 19, No. 13 Wisconsin to six on Nov. 25 and No. 6 Louisville to two on Dec. 1.
On the season, the Zips have outshot the opposition, 334-172 and have posted a 160-74 margin in corner kicks.
ZIPS' 1986 SQUAD HONORED
The 1986 Zips' men's soccer team, which became Akron's first College Cup team, was honored as part of the 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 7.
Setting their preseason goals on a national championship, the Zips secured two road wins over nationally ranked teams [Fresno State, 2-1; Penn State, 1-0] and Akron's first win over Indiana since 1975, 1-0, to prove they were going in the right direction.
Under the direction of head coach Steve Parker, Akron closed its regular season with six wins, including a 1-0 victory over No. 1 ranked Evansville on Lee Jackson Field. That victory earned the Zips a sixth spot, their highest national ranking ever up to that time.
Akron earned its 15th NCAA Tournament bid in its then 32-year history. After receiving a bye in the first round, Akron traveled to Evansville again where it claimed a 2-1 win in overtime.
The Zips hosted the NCAA quarterfinal match against Penn State, and came away with another 2-1 overtime victory.
Akron had to make a return trip to Fresno State for the national semifinals and downed the Bulldogs, 1-0.
Akron's only remaining hurdle to a national championship was a highly regarded Duke squad, which prevailed by the narrowest of margins, 1-0. Akron finished with a 17-4-3 record as the national runner-up, and Parker was accorded National Coach of the Year.
ALFRED INDUCTED INTO VARSITY "A" SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Eugene Alfred '73 – A four-year letterwinner in soccer was honored as part of the 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 7.
A native of Ibadan, Nigeria, Alfred earned second-team All-Ohio and All-Midwest Honorable Mention honors as a freshman in 1969 during an 8-4 campaign.
As a sophomore halfback, Alfred performed well enough to be selected first team on both the All-Ohio and All-Midwest squads and then was accorded 1970 All-America Honorable Mention accolades as he helped Akron earn an NCAA I Tournament berth while compiling an 8-5-1 record.
In 1971, he helped Akron capture its 10th Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association title and another postseason NCAA I Tournament berth with a 9-3-3 record.
As a senior in 1972, the Zips put together a 9-3-2 campaign and their third straight NCAA Tournament bid.
PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded a 115-8-13 (.893) ledger in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. Akron owns four unbeaten campaigns during that span, including posting home marks of 12-0-1, 13-0-0, 12-0-1, 10-0-2 and 12-0-0 during the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2017 seasons, respectively.
ZIPS PRIMED FOR BIG THINGS IN 2017
The Zips entered the 2017 campaign looking to build upon a 13-6-3 mark last season, including a 3-1-1 ledger in the Mid-American Conference, and a return to the College Cup in search of winning the program's second national championship.
Akron is seeking to integrate 11 newcomers this season in Marc Alexander (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Nate Brown, David Egbo, Faisal Ghaffur (Mississauga, Ontario), Morgan Hackworth, Christian Lue Young (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Joao Moutinho, Codie Lynd (Belleville, Ill.), Braden Petno (Hudson, Ohio), Daniel Strachan and Declan Watters (Dublin, Ireland) onto a roster that boasts seven returning starters from a year ago.
WHAT IS A ZIP?
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Twelve Zips have had their names called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, including a league record five selections in the first eight picks in 2011 following the Zips' national championship season.
• Akron broke a second MLS record that day as seven Akron players were chosen in the first two rounds, the most from a single team in draft history.
• Zippy is just one of five female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other four? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
UP NEXT
A victory by the Zips will send Akron into a College Cup final showdown with the winner of the No. 2 Indiana/No. 3 North Carolina match on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa.
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/ Men's Soccer2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer - Post-Game Comments at Vermont - 9/13/25
Sunday, September 14
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Western Michigan - 9/9/2025
Wednesday, September 10
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Cleveland State - 9/1/2025
Tuesday, September 02
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer - Post-Game Press Conference vs Northern Kentucky - 8/24/25
Monday, August 25
